cameras and observatories

[astro mick]

Does anyone leave their cmos camera permantly attached to their scope,even in winter.

I used to do this with my old ccd,but not sure about cmos.Although i cant see why there would be a difference.Having just got one,i would be interested in comments regarding this.

Have you experienced problems with this,especially say after a heavy dew,and the camera remaining wet for a period of time.

Or should we bring them in and dry out after every use.

Cheers.

Mick.

Edited December 4, 2020 by astro mick

[DaveS]

My ASI 1600 lives on my 'scope all year round under a TG 365 cover with an electric pet bed to keep the dew off.

[astro mick]

Thanks Dave.

I thought more people would have done this.

However.

Mick.

[Whirlwind]

Are you automating the set up as if you are that usually means the camera is 'on' permanently and generating some heat so should keep some dew away.  I think a dehumdifier in an observatory is a must in the UK which would also help.

[inFINNity Deck]

Hi Mick,

My ZWO ASI1600MM Cool Pro, ZWO ASI174MM and ZWO ASI290MC also live in the observatory all year round (since 2018), the 1600 is permanently installed, while the other two just wander around, but hardly ever leave the observatory (occasionally they spent a few days holiday in the heated garage doing collimation and mirror testing stuff). All cams are disconnected when not in use. The observatory itself is not climate-controlled, during lousy weather conditions the scopes and ASI1600 live under a Geoptik cover together with a 65W Intel NUC pc to keep them warm (less cold is a better description). The other two usually sit somewhere on the dome's ring with a dust-cap on. So far all three live a happy live, no complaints so far and they still look and perform like new.

Nicolàs

Edited December 5, 2020 by inFINNity Deck

[Miguel1983]

Yes, but my observatory is insulated and humidity is always 50-55% so it’s like it would be safely in it’s pouch.

[astro mick]

Hi guys thanks for this.

The observatory is dry,but when you have a heavy dew on an imaging night, and no wind the next day,all the gear is pretty wet.

I,m wondering if a dew band wrapped around the camera on a low setting would help.

Mick.

[Miguel1983]

18 minutes ago, astro mick said:

Hi guys thanks for this.

The observatory is dry,but when you have a heavy dew on an imaging night, and no wind the next day,all the gear is pretty wet.

I,m wondering if a dew band wrapped around the camera on a low setting would help.

Mick.

i would suggest a dehumidifier, moisture is the enemy of all electronics and not to forget your wooden construction, very happy with This one

[astro mick]

Nice dehumidifier,but a bit pricey for me.

These cameras must be built to withstand moisture,as they can become dripping wet on some nights,and there is no warning saying they have to taken back inside and dried out.

People who operate remote telescopes must have cameras attached all the time,but of course they might have a different set-up.

I,m leaning to-wards just leaving the camera attached.

Fingers crossed.

Mick.

[Sp@ce_d]

My Obsy is wood and has ventilation so not too bad. The only thing that seems to have been killed by damp over the past few years in my Obsy was a PC, and that was because I shut it down & left it for a year or so. The motherboard had pretty bad corrosion, lasted a few years when left on tho. I have a dehumidifier but don't use it all the time. It's automatically switched on/off when the obsy closes/opens.  Runs on a timer, can set humidity etc.. I usually have it set to run for a couple of hours after close unless the humidity is particularly high and the kits very wet. Got it from these guys.. https://www.dry-it-out.com/dry/observatories.html

[Whirlwind]

8 hours ago, astro mick said:

Nice dehumidifier,but a bit pricey for me.

These cameras must be built to withstand moisture,as they can become dripping wet on some nights,and there is no warning saying they have to taken back inside and dried out.

People who operate remote telescopes must have cameras attached all the time,but of course they might have a different set-up.

I,m leaning to-wards just leaving the camera attached.

Fingers crossed.

Mick.

A lot of remote observatories are located in dry locations (as high humidity also means cloud and rain) so it's less of an issue for these types of locations.  It is the external electronics you need to think about as well as connectors.  Most CCDs/CMOS are in purged chambers with some manner of reducing any moisture in the chamber (otherwise you get ice on the chip).  You never want any electronics sopping wet (that includes the mount) and you also have to be careful with the telescope as well because of mould or rusting cells etc.

Good dehumidifiers can be expensive but they are still cheaper than replacing the telescope equipment!  Think of it as insurance.  Dew heater bands are possible but is a bit of a fire risk as they aren't really designed to be always on so you might want to set it up that they only switch on in certain circumstances.

[astro mick]

8 hours ago, Sp@ce_d said:

My Obsy is wood and has ventilation so not too bad. The only thing that seems to have been killed by damp over the past few years in my Obsy was a PC, and that was because I shut it down & left it for a year or so. The motherboard had pretty bad corrosion, lasted a few years when left on tho. I have a dehumidifier but don't use it all the time. It's automatically switched on/off when the obsy closes/opens.  Runs on a timer, can set humidity etc.. I usually have it set to run for a couple of hours after close unless the humidity is particularly high and the kits very wet. Got it from these guys.. https://www.dry-it-out.com/dry/observatories.html

Thanks.

I will have a look at these.

Mick.

[astro mick]

3 hours ago, Whirlwind said:

A lot of remote observatories are located in dry locations (as high humidity also means cloud and rain) so it's less of an issue for these types of locations.  It is the external electronics you need to think about as well as connectors.  Most CCDs/CMOS are in purged chambers with some manner of reducing any moisture in the chamber (otherwise you get ice on the chip).  You never want any electronics sopping wet (that includes the mount) and you also have to be careful with the telescope as well because of mould or rusting cells etc.

Good dehumidifiers can be expensive but they are still cheaper than replacing the telescope equipment!  Think of it as insurance.  Dew heater bands are possible but is a bit of a fire risk as they aren't really designed to be always on so you might want to set it up that they only switch on in certain circumstances.

Hi.

I take your point,and of course you dont want sopping electronics,but again these cameras must be built to cope with this.Those who image outside and not in an observatory  must be very prone to sopping cameras when there is a heavy dew,yes they then take their camera inside to dry off,but the camera has still been exsposed to wet conditions.

As to a Dehumidifier,my obsy is pretty well ventilated,and not really closed in when shut.Therefore i would be trying to take the moisture out of the incomming air,a losing battle methinks.

I have emailed ZWO over this,but never got a reply.

Cheers.

Mick.